* Navy Seaman Apprentice James T. Ballance, son of James E. Ballance of Windsor, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, homeported in Norfolk as part of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. He joined the Navy in 1990.

* Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Troy E. Bender, whose wife, Shirley, is the daughter of Oscar C. and Hazel M. Thompson of Portsmouth, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment with Fighter Squadron 84, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, as part of the air wing for the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. He joined the Navy in 1984.

* Navy Seaman Roderick K. Bowden, son of Elaine M. Bowden of Portsmouth, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk, as lead ship in its battle group. He joined the Navy in 1990.

* Coast Guard Lt. John R. Caplis, whose wife, Rhonda, is the daughter of Waverly and Rosalyn Foster of Suffolk, took part in the response to a major oil spill in the Mississippi River near Donaldson, La. He joined the Coast Guard in 1982.

* Navy Fireman Dwayne L. Casper, a 1989 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the destroyer tender USS Shenandoah, homeported in Norfolk, as part of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. He joined the Navy in 1989.

* Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Donald P. Cutler, son of Dallas P. and June F. Cutler of Smithfield, passed the midway point is a six-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk as lead ship in its battle group. He joined the Navy in 1990.

* Marine Sgt. Mark A. DelCampo, son of Alexander S. and Paraluman S. DelCampo of Portsmouth was promoted to his present rank while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. He joined the Marine Corps in 1989.

* Marine Lance Cpl. Johnny R. Ellis, a 1990 graduate of Forest Glen High School, Suffolk participated in the 10-day combined military exercise ``Team Spirit 93,'' conducted in the Republic of Korea. He joined the Marine Corps in 1992.

* Navy Petty Officer 1st Class John K. Halsey, son of Robert and Daisy B. Brinkley of Suffolk, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk as lead ship in its battle group. The 1983 graduate of Suffolk High School joined the Navy in 1983.

* Navy Fireman Samuel L. Jenkins, son of Althea D. Scales of Suffolk, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk as lead ship in its battle group. The 1991 graduate of Nansemond River High School joined the Navy in 1991.

* Navy Seaman Apprentice Leslie V. Jones, a 1991 graduate of Nansemond River High School, Suffolk, recently passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the destroyer tender USS Shenandoah, homeported in Norfolk, as part of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. She joined the Navy in 1992.

* Air Force Capt. Richard S. Moore has been decorated with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He is the son of Richard D. and Marguerite E. Moore of Suffolk.

* Navy Seaman Recruit Darrius L. Myrick, son of James H. Myrick of Suffolk, completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. He joined the Navy in 1992.

* Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert D. Platt, whose wife, Wanda, is the daughter of John Turner of Suffolk, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk, as lead ship in its battle group. He joined the Navy in 1987.

* Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Davis Santiago, whose wife, Vera, is the daughter of Sidney and Doris Atkins of Portsmouth, passed the midway point in a six-month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk, as lead ship in its battle group. He joined the Navy in 1983.

* Pvt. Lamont A. Saunders has completed basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Sharon F. Riley, and grandson of Althalia P. Robinson, both of Suffolk. He is a 1992 graduate of Lakeland High School, Suffolk.

* Navy Seaman Apprentice Brian J. Smith, son of Lloyd L. and Clemae Smith of Suffolk, graduated from Basic Electronics Technician School. The 1992 graduate of Nansemond River High School joined the Navy in 1992.